Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-07

The planted ear returned its hundred fold.
Great clusters ripened in a warmer sun
Than that which by the Rhine stream shines
upon
The purpling hillsides with low vines
o'errun.
Meath skies that winter never knew
The air was full of light and balm,
And warm and soft the Gulf wind blew
Through orange bloom and groves of palm.
OF late years there has been grad
ual influx of Quakers into. Southern
California and there having come
many of the highest class of the So
ciety Of Friends it became evident to
them that there should be established
colony where the Quaker religion
reigned and where Friends who come
to this coast will be certain to meet
Friends. Mr.. A. Pickering, formerly
of Philadelphia and now of Chicago,
was one of the first to inaugurate this
great enterprise. He is a Quaker him
self and coming to this coast last
spring was so impressed with the
beauties of Los Angeles county that he
determined to locate here. He saw
the advantages to be derived by res
idence here and, being a broad
minded, liberal spirited man, he de.
termined that his brethren in the East
should share in the general prosperity.
He accordingly associated with him
self Mr.. Jonathan Bailey, Hervey
Lindley and others and the Pickering
Land and Water Company was or
ganized. One of the most beautiful
ranches in the county-that of John
Thomas, in the Los Nietos valley, was
secured as a site, and certainly more
desirable place could not have been
purchased had the company spent
years in looking over our many choice
lands. The purchase included 1000
acres, of which 1900 acres are situated
at the base of the mountains, with a
gently rolling slope toward the ocean.
This 1900 acre tract was selected as
the town site, and a view of the place
will convince anybody that the gentle
men chose most wisely.
IMPROVEMENTS COMMENCED.
On the 10Th of May the company
began operations on the new townsite,
and what was then field of waving
barley is now bustling village, with
its stores, hotels, restaurants, livery
stable and dwelling houses on every
side. That vanguard of civilization,
the saloon, has not appeared, but
there is erected very handsome Qua
ker church. which will be dedicated,
with the usual simple services of
the Society of Friends, on next
Sunday morning. A handsome brick
bank is in process of construction, and
it is rumored that it will have capi-
tai of $3.50, 900 and will be opened by
the middle of September. 1t will do
a general banking business, and at the
same time will have an eye out for
real estate banking. On a slightly
knoll overlooking the town will be
erected Quaker college, at a cost
of not less than $4,000. A dis
tinguished educator of Minneapolis
will be the president of this institu-
tion, and will gather around him
corps of professors that will compose
a faculty of which Southern California
may well be proud. This college will
be built and endowed by a million
aire who for the present wishes his
name kept quiet.
THE YEARLY MEETING.
On this coast there are at present
dozen Quaker churches, and in ac-
cordance with their time-honored
custom they hold yearly meetings.
1t is the intention of the people who
have established this new colony to
see that these yearly meetings are
held here.
THE NAME-wHITTIER
In casting around for name, it did
not take long to decide. John Green
leaf Whittier, one of the most dis
tinguished and loved poets of America,
is a Quaker, and has written more
charming and beautiful things than
any poet who now lives. He is en-
shrined in the hearts of all of the
Friends and of all lovers of liberty.
Consequently, the first name that oc-
cnrred to the gentlemen having the
new town in hand was Whittier"
and the name was unanimously
adopted. 1t is not hard to believe
that the poet Whittier had dreamed
of the town which bears his name
when he wrote the opening lines OF
Barbara Frietchie:
"Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach tree fruited deep,
Fair as a garden of the LORD.
A TRIP TO WHITTIER.
One day last week the city editor OF
the HERALD accepted an invitation
from Mr.. Hervey Lindley to take a
drive to the promising new town. An
early start was effected and the ride
was most exhilerating. The mag
nifcent Laguna ranch, where
headers and threshers were
busy harvesting the crop of grain was
passed and then the Los Nietos Val
lev was reached. There are many
people in Los Angeles county who are
willing to bet considerable sums of
money that Los Nietos is the most fer
tile and best watered portion of South
cru California. Both branches OF the
San Gabriel river flow through it and
vegetation runs riot. Corn grows to
phenomenal heights and the length OF
ear is to be wondered at. Zanjas and
water-ditches flow in every direction,
and there is never scarcity of water
for any purpose. Right here it may
sbe stated that two bridges to span the
forks of the San Gabriel river are bad
ly needed, and it is said that the
Board of Supervisors will shortly order
them built. When this is done there
will be no more beautiful drive in Los
Angeles county than that from Los
Angeles to Whittier.
After rattling twelve mile ride the
embryo city was reached. As before
said all was hustle and activity
and new houses were found springine
up on every side. The streets are all
nicely graded and the improvements
going on are astonishing. On the cor
ner OF Philadelphia street and Green
If --.-....o 80 :, ho,,dooma fw0-atOrx